Bug Identifier
European Stag Beetle
Community identification

European Stag Beetle

Lucanus cervus

Order & Family
Coleoptera: Lucanidae
Size
35 to 92 mm for males; females are smaller
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Deciduous woodlands, parks, and gardens with old trees and rotting wood

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on tree sap and nectar; larvae feed on rotting wood, especially oak

Behavior Patterns

Males use large mandibles to wrestle rivals for mates; active mostly at dusk in early summer

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to humans; beneficial to ecosystem as decomposers that recycle nutrients from dead wood